Football Season Guide

Rinse and repeat has become a popular saying in this part of South East London. Are Charlton Athletic finally ready to escape from the doldrums? Nathan Jones is the latest in a long line of managers to be handed this particular poisoned chalice. He finds himself squeezed in the middle between demanding and unpopular owners and a supporter-base tired of being let down. Jones will need to hit the ground running despite having made a positive start since his appointment in February. The owners don’t give their managers time, and the Welshmen may not see the clocks go back if they make a poor start to the new season. A symptom of a growing malaise is selling your best players and this has happened again with last season’s leading goalscorer Alfie May sold to be Birmingham City for somewhere approaching £1m. Midfield playmaker George Dobson had been expected to leave for Hungarian side Fehervar, however a change of mind brought hope he might stay, only to sign for League One rivals Wrexham. The recruitment drive has started, albeit having overpaid Ipswich Town for striker Gassan Ahadme. Midfielder Luke Berry and striker Matt Godden look like shrewd additions and will bring much needed experience to supplement a talented group of youngsters coming through. There is still more work to do in the market and there are likely to be several arrivals and departures before window closes at the end of August. In Jones the Addicks have found the right manager however, and given time, he can bring success to the Valley.